Dr. Billy Graham’s Legacy

“Billy Graham carried his message around the world, but his heart, as Franklin will tell you, was always in America. He took his message to the poorest places, to the downtrodden and to the brokenhearted, to inmates in prison, and to the overlooked and the neglected. Everywhere he went, Reverend Graham delivered the same beautiful message: God loves you. That was his message.  God loves you. We can only imagine the number of lives touched by the preaching and the prayers of Billy Graham –- the hearts he changed, the sorrows he eased, and the joy he brought to so many. The testimony is endless. Today, we give thanks for this extraordinary life. And it’s very fitting that we do so right here in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol, where the memory of the American people is enshrined. Here in this room, we are reminded that America is a nation sustained by prayer.  The painting to my left is of the pilgrims as they embarked for America, holding fast to the Bible and bowing their heads in prayer. Along these walls, we see the faces of Americans who prayed as they stood on the Lexington Green, who prayed as they headed west, prayed as they headed into battle, and prayed as they marched for justice, and always marched for victory. Around us stand the statues of heroes who led the nation in prayer during the great and difficult times, from Washington to Lincoln to Eisenhower to King. And, today, in the center of this great chamber lies legendary Billy Graham, an ambassador for Christ who reminded the world of the power of prayer and the gift of God’s grace.” (President Donald J. Trump at the U.S. Capitol, as Dr. Billy Graham lay in honor.)1

“For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].” (Ephesians 2:8-9; AMP)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

• Pray for the downtrodden, the lonely, the poor, those in prison, and the brokenhearted. Ask the Holy Spirit to draw them to Jesus’ love and salvation.
• Ask God to make you an instrument of His love, peace, reconciliation, and mercy.
• Read carefully through the list above of times Americans bowed their head to seek God for their future and the future of their families and nation. Seek the Lord for your future and the future f your family and nation now.
• Pray for every person you know who is without Jesus today. Don’t be afraid to weep or travail or to war for their soul. You are pitched in an eternal battle for souls.
• Thank the Lord for your own salvation. Where would you be without Him? Worship Him for His goodness and grace over your life.

A prayer you can pray:

Father, give me Your heart for the downtrodden, the lonely, the poor, those in prison, and for the brokenhearted. Holy Spirit, draw them to Jesus by Your love and grace! Use me to be a messenger of Your mercy and make me a reconciler of men to God. America’s history, from the time of the Pilgrims, is filled with accounts of those who humbly sought You for their future, the future of their offspring, and the future of the nation they loved. Hear my prayers for these things for myself, my family, and my nation. (Pray for lost loved ones for a bit.) I am so thankful that You saved me, Jesus! I do not know where my life would be without You. I don’t even want to try to imagine it! I will only worship and exalt Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Today’s decree:

I decree that the lost in America will have opportunity to know the undeserved grace gift of God!

1 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-ceremony-preceding-lying-honor-reverend-billy-graham/